All Posts in Category: Appointment Reminder

If you’re the man of the house, you probably think that dental health is the last thing on your priority list. Today’s dads are busy with their careers, kid’s (or grandkid’s) activities and “Honey Do” lists.

However, if you want to be healthy for your family, you must take care of your teeth.

Dr. Mayo of Mayo Clinic has explained, “Having a healthy mouth can add 10 years to your life.”

Medication Does dad take any kind of heart medication including blood pressure or cholesterol meds?

These medications are notorious for causing dry mouth and inhibiting salivary flow. The flow of saliva is crucial for washing away the germs that cause cavities, so dry mouth is bacteria’s playground!

Dad should have regular checkups to manage his Dry Mouth symptoms, chew sugarless gum and swish with water on a regular basis.

Diabetes
Is dad Diabetic?

The statistics about Diabetes and dental care are startling:

Uncontrolled Type II Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.

Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.

Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.

Medication can cause dry mouth which can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and cavities.

A dry mouth can exacerbate the side effects of diabetes, which will then lead to an increase in glucose levels, wreaking havoc on the body.

Having a dry mouth, especially as a diabetic, can lead to rampant tooth decay, which means blood sugar increases as the body tries, and fails, to fight infection.

Sometimes if the blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, the result is dry mouth.

Once again, it’s important to maintain regular dental care appointments to avoid the inflammation, gum disease and decay that can be caused by Diabetes and medication.

Dental CowardWe know dads have a reputation for being the “tough guy” but even “tough guys” can dread visiting the dentist. Many men have had bad experiences at the dentist and understandably avoid dental exams.

Dr. Korenman and his staff understand dental fear and they are dedicated to reversing the trend of miserable dental experiences. He will never cause his patients pain and he listens to all of their concerns.

If it’s been some time or even a long time since dad’s last appointment, we want him to know that we never will scold him or make him feel guilty because we are just glad to see him.

Because dentists see into their patient’s mouths more than physicians, they have an important part in identifying sleep related disorders.

What is sleep apnea?

More than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses is breathing, or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep.

This can lead to daytime sleeplessness and fatigue, snoring, restless sleep, dry mouth and/or throat and teeth grinding. Sufferers can start and stop breathing up to hundreds of times per night.

So, how is sleep apnea related to your mouth?

While dentists aren’t licensed to formally diagnose sleep apnea in patients, during a common dental exam there are certain indications that could point to a possible sleep disorder. The dentist can then refer the patient to a sleep specialist.

Dental Signs Indicating Sleep Apnea

Enlarged tongue and/or tonsils in addition to teeth indentations along the tongue.

Teeth Grinding

Grinding and clenching of the teeth (Bruxism) is often caused by stress and it can cause teeth to break, cause pain in the jaw and even result in headaches and migraines.

One of the ways Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles in Richardson, TX helps patients is by utilizing night-time tooth guards which not only protect the teeth from stress, but also protects the muscles.

In addition to the elimination of teeth grinding, many patients who wear the NTI mouth guard have found an improvement with their headaches and have also found that they sleep better.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth results from open-mouth sleeping, which is common among individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

Saliva contains beneficial phosphates, minerals and calcium that protect tooth enamel from being eroded by bacteria. Without the continuous flow of saliva, the mouth becomes a horrendous breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to extensive tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

Gum disease not only leads to severe oral health disorders, but can exacerbate overall health conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory disorders.

Patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea often benefit from wearing an oral appliance at night. This helps keep the airway open during sleep.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment. 972-231-0585

During the month of April, 2017, new patients at Loveable Smiles in Richardson will receive a FREE Oral Cancer Screening. ($65 value)

Already a patient? Bring in someone new and your exam will also be free!

Every hour, of every day one American dies of oral cancer.

It is assumed that Oral Cancer is mainly a disease of older people, contracted after a lifetime of smoking and drinking.

But things are changing and Dr. Korenman is seeing an increase in Oral Cancer in patients of all ages and lifestyles.

Despite the common risk factors, EVERYONE is at risk REGARDLESS of their risk factors.

Dentists are often the first line of defense against oral cancer, through the process of early discovery. They help find cancer at its earliest stage, when the chances for successful treatment are highest.

An Oral Cancer Screening takes less than 15 minutes and should be a part of everyone’s annual health appointments.

Dr. Korenman uses the ViziLite Plus, which is a 5-minute test that uses fluorescent light to help dentists spot abnormal changes in the mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth and throat.

We simply use a 2×2 gauze, mirror and a special light to inspect the oral/pharyngeal area. We will palpitate/massage the neck and throat area to check for any abnormal lumps (checking the Thyroid area as well).

The entire screening takes less than 15 minutes and is completely painless.

Please call for your appointment. 972-231-0585

As we enter the weeks of the year, we would like to remind our patients who have dental insurance that if you do not use your coverage during the plan year, you will lose those benefits.
Unused coverage does not carry over into the next year.

Use it or lose it!

We know how busy our schedules get during the holidays, but we encourage you to call our office today to schedule your cleaning before the end of the year.

Dental treatment is an excellent investment in your medical and psychological well being.

The cost of dentistry can be managed and we want our patients to know that we will work with them so that they can attain their dental health and beauty goals.

This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

If you are pregnant, no doubt you are constantly bombarded with tips, advice and opinions.

Here is a tip to safeguard the health of your baby; please, go see your dentist.

The bacteria that cause gum disease may increase a mom’s risk for delivering prematurely. (Mom, you may not even know you have gum disease. Yes, those hormones can also affect your gums!)

Gum Disease & Developing Babies

There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (once again, mom may not even know she has gum disease) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

A study exploring the possible link between gum disease and preeclampsia found that 50% of the placentas from women with preeclampsia were positive for one or more gum disease pathogens.

Scientists believe these infections cause a rapid increase in certain fluids in the body that, in turn, induce labor. It’s not necessarily the infection itself, but the body’s response to the infection that causes the premature birth.

Mom’s Hormones & Tooth Decay

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of their babies.

Studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay.

Additionally, pregnant women with acid reflux are also at a greater risk of tooth erosion and

periodontal problems as the acid dissolves away the protective coating of teeth (enamel) leaving them weakened and at a very high risk of needing extensive (and expensive) restorations.

Dr. Korenman recommends that women visit his office as soon as they learn or their pregnancy. Dr. Korenman and his team will test for any health problems that might affect your baby.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a safe treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

For the health of your unborn baby, we urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

Quite often Dr. Korenman hears the following and very common dental myth:

“I’d know if my teeth had problems – I know my teeth.”

While there are occasional situations where patients have an immediate oral infection or injury that does hurt, the reality is pain is not a reliable indicator of dental problems.

A cavity can form, sometimes becoming quite advanced, with no symptoms at all. It can grow into an abscessed tooth without the person having any noticeable symptoms until it’s too late and it becomes infected and then there IS pain!

Here’s another startling statistic:

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist and statistically 70% of dentists do not screen their patients on a yearly basis and even they will miss diagnosing this terrible problem.

Dr. Korenman encourages his patients to schedule their Total Health Dental appointment at regular intervals not only to have a healthy mouth, but a healthy body. Many of these unknown oral issues can contribute to inflammation in your body and lead to a host of issues including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Learn more about the mouth body connection here. http://loveablesmiles.com/category/total-health-dental-care/

Technology for those “unseen” spaces

When we look into our mouths, only a small portion of the surface area of our teeth and gums is visible. The unseen surface area of our teeth and the inside of our gum pockets may actually be greater than the visible surfaces, depending on how bad the pockets are. These pockets, or spaces between the gum and teeth can range from 1/16’ deep to over ½’ deep, all the way around the tooth. If we added up the surface area of the unseen germ world, it would be about the size of the palm of our hand. Imagine having an infected area that big for a lifetime and not doing anything about it! Yet most people don’t even realize this hidden germ world exists.

Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles has invested in the latest dental technology that allows him and his team to see things that normally go undetected. Using the NewTom VG3 Dental CAT-scan Dr. Korenman is able to obtain limitless, 3D views including between the teeth, under the gums, in the bones and even nerve canals and sinuses can be seen. This allows Dr. K to completely diagnose and provide full treatment options.

Patients are able to clearly see for themselves, visible, existing physical conditions.

We invite you to call Loveable Smiles for your dental CAT scan and Total Health Dental appointment at 972-231-0585

Proper nutrition and diet programs affect our health. For dental concerns, there are certain foods to eat to keep your teeth healthy. Oral checks must also be done regularly to ensure you get healthy teeth, gums, and mouth for healthy body functions.

Knowing the Risks
It is best to let you know the risks of ignoring your teeth’s health and nutritional requirements so you will understand better how important to take care of your teeth through the foods you eat and other habits you need to change.

Cavities
These are the result of plaque build-up. Cavities appear as holes in the teeth. As they grow bigger and touch some nerves, you feel pain. A tooth abscess comes from an untreated cavity so you should hurry up for treatment when you spot a cavity in your teeth.

Periodontal Disease
This is another name for gum disease. It starts as gingivitis or gum problem in its early stage. Gingivitis can be cured to stop further issues but if not taken seriously, it can lead to the formation of little spaces between the teeth and gums that is known as “pockets.” These pockets are then colonized by bacteria that result to periodontitis.
The symptoms include tender, swollen or discoloured gums. Receding and bleeding gums, loose tooth, bad breath, and sensational changes when eating. Root surface debridement is the procedure used for treating this disease.

Understanding Dietary Essentials
Here are the foods that you need in optimizing oral health at its best potentials.

Calcium and Phosphorus
Milk, cheeses, chicken or other meats, and nuts are rich in phosphorus and calcium that are effective to remineralize the teeth after damaged by acids.

High Water Content
This include firm or crunchy fruits like pears, apples and even vegetables. The high water content in these fruits and vegetables stimulate salivary flow, washing the acid away, and dilutes sugary effects. Tomatoes, lemons, citrus and other acidic foods must be taken as part of larger meals to minimize acidic reactions.

Water
This universal solvent is the best beverage for all body types and ages. Sugar-containing drinks must be limited to avoid decay-causing acids.

Cranberries
These fruits along with blueberries, eggplant, red cabbage, raspberries and black rice are rich in anthocyanins that prevent pathogenic attachment the teeth and other host tissues.

Probiotics
These help destroy plaque and gingivitis making you less prone to periodontal diseases.
Soy, green tea, whole foods, Echinacea, ginseng, ginger, garlic, and other foods rich in zinc, irons, vitamins C, A, D, B, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants in addition to calcium and phosphorus helps you get complete oral health in action.
Please call us at 972-231-0585 for dental appointment. We’ll be glad to see you!

Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth.

Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar.

If your gums bleed when you brush, that’s your body’s way of telling you that you have plaque trapped under the gum line. Bacteria found in plaque create toxic chemicals that irritate the gums and can eventually lead to gum disease.

Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

Recent research suggests that gum disease is linked to other health problems including heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and some pregnancy complications.

Here are 3 realities of gum disease:

Gum (Periodontal) Disease is an ongoing bacterial infection deep in the gums and bone around your teeth.

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

Gum Disease has been shown to increase the risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke.

Here at Loveable Smiles, we check our patients for Gum Disease on a regular basis. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.